Bringing you vintage African films

DRACULA: Then and Now

Dracula has been around for years and every generation of filmmakers has their own take on this mythical creature. Where did Dracula originate from and how did filmmakers bring their renditions to the screen.

DRACULA (NOSFERATU) [1931]

This movie is based on the novel written by Bram Stoker and even though it had been put into a film in 1922 under the name ‘Nosferatu’ this German masterpiece was still not a match for this true cinematic classic that was ‘Dracula’. The main actor, Bela Lugosi, rose to instant fame when he played the part of this suave and sophisticated nobleman who had ladies swoon with his cultured Hungarian accent.

After a harrowing ride through the Carpathian Mountains in eastern Europe, Renfield enters castle Dracula to finalize the transferral of Carfax Abbey in London to Count Dracula, who is actuality a vampire. Renfield is drugged by the eerily hypnotic count, and turned into one of his thralls, protecting him during his sea voyage to London. After sucking the blood and turning the young Lucy Weston into a vampire, Dracula turns his attention to her friend Mina Seward, daughter of Dr. Seward who then calls in a specialist, Dr. Van Helsing, to diagnose the sudden deterioration of Mina’s health. Van Helsing, realizing that Dracula is indeed a vampire, tries to prepare Mina’s fiancé, John Harker, and Dr. Seward for what is to come and the measures that will have to be taken to prevent Mina from becoming one of the undead.

Now, fast-forward to present day and we have a smorgasbord of Dracula / vampire movies and TV series to choose from and most of them have the common thread, that Count Dracula was the first vampire and their character origins relate to the Count himself. Let’s have a look at a couple of these variations…

BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA [1992]

This version of Dracula is closely based on Bram Stoker’s classic novel of the same name. A young lawyer (Jonathan Harker) is assigned to a gloomy village in the mists of eastern Europe. He is captured and imprisoned by the undead vampire Dracula, who travels to London, inspired by a photograph of Harker’s betrothed, Mina Murray. In Britain, Dracula begins a reign of seduction and terror, draining the life from Mina’s closest friend, Lucy Westenra. Lucy’s friends gather together to try to drive Dracula away.

DRACULA: UNTOLD [2014]

At the turn of the century, the young lord Vlad and his family live a peaceful life ruling over their small kingdom, but when a Turk warlord demands from Vlad a thousand boys and his son to create an army Vlad seeks a terrible power that will allow him to protect his kingdom and family from the Turks at a terrible cost.

The cast includes Luke Evans as Vlad, Sarah Gadon as Mirena and Dominic Cooper as Mehmed and directed by Gary Shore.

A couple of honorable mentions when it comes to spin-offs from the original movie would definitely be….

Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles [1994]

It hasn’t even been a year since a plantation owner named Louis lost his wife in childbirth. Both his wife and the infant died, and now he has lost his will to live. A vampire named Lestat takes a liking to Louis and offers him the chance to become a creature of the night: a vampire. Louis accepts, and Lestat drains Louis’ mortal blood and then replaces it with his own, turning Louis into a vampire. Louis must learn from Lestat the ways of the vampire.

Directed by Neil Jordan and cast includes Brad Pitt as Louis, Christian Slater as Malloy and Tom Cruise as Lestat.

Queen of the Damned [2002]

After many years of sleeping in his coffin, the vampire Lestat awakens only to find that the world has changed and he wants to be a part of it. He gathers a following and becomes a rock star only to find that his music awakens the ancient Queen Akasha and she wants him to become her king…

Directed by Michael Rymer and cast includes the late Aaliyah as Queen Akasha, Stuart Townsend as The Vampire Lestat and Marguerite Moreau as Jesse.

And Last but not least…

DRACULA [2013 – 2014] TV Series

Dracula travels to London, with dark plans for revenge against those who ruined his life centuries earlier. However, his plan is complicated when he falls in love with a woman who seems to be a reincarnation of his dead wife.

This TV Series consists of 10 episodes, directed by Cole Haddon and the cast includes Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Alexander Grayson, Jessica De Gouw as Ilona and Thomas Kretschmann as Abraham Van Helsing.

If the supernatural is your kind of thing, then it’s safe to say you are familiar with the Count and all the variations of his origin and existence. We might have mentioned a couple of movies that you have not seen yet or we might have rekindled some spark in you to watch them again. Either way vampire stories are here to stay so if you love them, welcome them into your home and if not, stock up on the garlic…. It’s gonna be a long night.